Blog Project

Over the next few months, while the weather is most often keeping me off the ocean, I have a plan....I'll write up several posts explaining(and including photographs)of icebergs, caplin, seabirds, dolphins and whales. Some of the many things I find beautiful and mysterious about this wonderful island. It won't be hard to justify why I have always loved this coast...

later....

Resurface

Like this Dolphin I photographed next to the boat some years ago, I'll resurface soon. I was busy photographing the 17th St. John's Women's International Film Festival. A real treat.

We've had high winds the past few days. So I'll at least try for a nearby lake. Forecast today is for wind gusts of 80km. I must really need to get that paddle in my hand.

Later.

Storm Gathering, balls!

That may be a bit harsh. It's one thing to wish I was there...but actually...I think they are really, really on to something. Hit the title for this great link. It seems that this first annual UK 'Storm Gathering Sea Symposium' was a great success. It may be an idea that could be very useful to us here in this part of the world. The St. John's area alone holds many of Canada's record annual, snow, rain, wind and fog days. So while the kayak trips are always spectacular, it is also the norm here to have many more days that you can not actually get out, then days you can...but one would always like to narrow that margin. A great idea...and something to aspire to.

The Glide...

When the water is like massage oil. You slip through it like a gliding touch. Enter the blade at the right angle and it feels like unknown strength. Force the pace for the pure pleasure of the rush and then arch back for the light headed feel of a carving turn...as if you were one...

Printed Maps, Rock.

"People should not fear their governments, governments should fear their people"...Rejoice in the news....

*CBC today:The Canada Map Office has found its way out of the scrap heap.

The previous Liberal government decided to close the map office, which provides regional dealers with large-scale topographical maps that show details about terrain and elevation. The plan had been to move to digital maps only.

But Natural Resources Minister Gary Lunn announced Wednesday that the Conservative government has yanked that plan off its course, and the map office will remain open.

Kathleen Olson, a spokeswoman for Lunn, said Natural Resources Canada received a flood of letters protesting the planned closure.

"We did start seeing a lot of commotion around the idea of this office closing," Olson said.*CBC today.

For those of us who do not live behind a nice comfy office deck....we realize that the GPS batteries do die...Hence, the term "Catastrophic failure" can be something as simple as a few AA batteries dying. So then, to the old fashion reliable paper back up....we rejoice in the news.

That Time of the Year....

Yes...Like the young Gannets on Bird Rock at St. Mary's...to jump or not to jump? To pull out the jackets, or wear shirts in denial. To stay slim, or put on a few pounds for warmth and stave off illness? The tan is gone, there's a chill in the air...and the days are too short. But still...it has been a warm and beautiful fall...just don't want to get my ass kicked and realize to late that I've left not turning the home heat on....and then feel chilled until next June.

Damn it!...I'll keep the BBQ going, run in shorts...last as long as I can on this rock...take it to the extreme. Once sick, I'll recover...then eat more hardy, pull out a fire log and add an extra blanket to the bed...HA!

October Skies

On my way home from a paddle....and fall is definitely in the air. Spent the other day on a tourism commercial. We covered from Ferryland to St. Vincent's on the Avalon's southern shore and south coast. We shot from sunrise to sunset, covered 300km and including travel, worked a 19 hour day. Whew...But as I got a moment to look up from my work and actually take in what we were shooting...sun, blue sky, white puffy clouds, dramatic blue ocean, green roaming hills and tundra, spotted islands,...I could go on...It was beautiful. As interesting as the job was, I ached to be kayaking. A day and a turkey dinner later...I got my wish. These days are to short, as the sun now sets before 6:30...I say take in every minute that you can.

Send Money, Guns and Lawyers...

Received this forwarded e-mail from my sister, via her Triathlete crowd. Calling ICE may be a very good idea...here's an excerpt.

"A recent article from the Toronto Star, "the ICE idea", In case of Emergency
"(ICE)" is catching on and it is a very simple, yet important method of contact for you or a loved one in case of an
emergency. As cell phones are carried by the majority of the population, all you need to do is program the
number of a contact person or persons and store the name as "ICE". The idea was thought up by a paramedic who found that when they went to the scenes of accidents, there were always mobile phones with patients, but they  didn't know which numbers to call. He therefore thought that it would be a good idea if there was a nationally recognized name to file
"next of kin" under. Following a disaster in London....The East Anglican Ambulance Service has launched a national "In case of Emergency "(ICE)"campaign. The idea is that you store the word "ICE " in your mobile phone address book, and with it enter the number of the person you would want to be contacted "In Case of Emergency ". In an emergency situation, Emergency
Services personnel and hospital staff would then be able to quickly contact your next of kin, by simply dialing the number programed under "ICE". Please forward this to everybody in your address book. It won't take too many "forwards" before everybody will know about this. It really could save your life, or put a loved one's mind at rest. For more than one contact name simply enter ICE1, ICE2, ICE3 etc. A great idea that will make a difference."

I realized after, that the area code should be typed into this number...so then the province/state or country is not in question.

Lendal paddles to the US

Just learned that the ever growing US firm Johnson Outdoors has bought out Scotland's historic Lendal Paddles. Scotland was always proud of Lendal and the quality and craftsmanship of these paddles...let's hope the multi-nationals don't forget this in the name of profit. Don't hold your breath...

Maybe I should buy that back up Nordkapp paddle while it's still in stock. Humm...

Wet...and wetter...

Optio works under water. As with all things marked waterproof...you never know 'til you try it. Splash bags and cases(?)...no way. If gear is marked waterproof, then I'll get it under water. If that test doesn't work, then good...and it's back to the store with it, no buts.

Soloed out of Aquaforte today. Good to spend the afternoon on the water....Isaac?...the calm before the storm looks like...

"Isaac is moving northward at 18 knots. There is some uncertainty on the amount of interaction that could take place between a trough of low pressure over the martimes and issac on Monday. Our current forecast track brings Isaac into the Laurentian fan Monday morning and crossing the Southeast corner of the Avalon Peninsula in the evening. However...
The forecast track of Isaac could change and mariners are advised to monitor upcoming forecasts very closely."

Rare to see the word "However..." in a forecast. Either way, we get wet with wind driven rain. Never a dull moment.